DIY Canopy and Stand Refinish

[Sir Ottis]

I have been wanting to build a new canopy for a few months now. After looking at plans for ever, I ran across a thread on this board by neilanh http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f14/its-so-on-now-72g-reef-build-104774.html of his 72 gal build. I imediately saw how I wanted to build my canopy.

neilanh's canopy

And so it began. Here is what I have gotten done this weekend.

This is the canopy by itself. It has a full open face for access and a rear 1/4 hinge so I can get to my HOB overflow. Because I am using a combo light - I placed two exhaust fans on a negative pressure in the top for heat displacement.

So here it is on the tank. I have two media towers on each side of my tank and have been wanting to refinish the stand to match them. So I decided now is as good of a time as any. BTW - Gel-Stain is a PAIN to remove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dry run with light in canopy

Here is pic of how far I can slide the light back for tank access.

And after the weekend was over - the progress so far:

I will update pics when I have completed the refinish. I wanted to post some pics of this to thank the people who post here for their much appreciated help and their great ideas.

BTW - I am planning on converting my filter to the same set-up neilanh did.

 

[jose7878]

Looks very sharp!!!!! Will you be stained or polyuerethane???

 

[ccCapt]

Looks great. Very nice job!

 

[Hellathafish]

Looks very good.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Looking very nice

.

 

[Sir Ottis]

Thanks for the comments. I will be staining the canopy and stand to match the media towers. Then of course I will apply a couple coats of poly for water-resistant protection from minor spillages.

The doors and drawer front will take me another week or so to strip due to all of the detail. I will post pics when I have more progress.


BTW - the canopy has not created any extra heat in my water. My temps are now what they were prior to me putting the canopy on throughout the day. We will see how this does in the summer months. I am hoping I do not have to install a small chiller.

 

[austinsdad]

On your BTW....

A couple of fans in the canopy helped me quite a bit in the summer. I'm running 3x150 MHs and 4x96 actinic. Created a 3 degree temp swing. I put the fans on timers to coincide with the MHs coming on.

 

[Sir Ottis]

That is good news. I am runnig 2 x 150W HQI's and 4 x 96w actinics myself.

 

[austinsdad]

To change the subject a bit....

You're likely gonna wanna clean/scrape the sides and the rock situated there won't letcha. I keep mine far enuf away to fit a magnet or my hand and a scraper down to the sand. It gets funky over there after a while, and IMO cleaning there enables viewing from the sides which can be fun I think.

 

[Sir Ottis]

Yeah - the rock on the left is not in it's final resting place. I am going to pick up a few more rocks to situate it. I keep all of my rocks off of the sides enough to get a scraper by them to keep the glass clean.